Having Naloxone, also known as Narcan, in Norwood Police cruisers will undoubtedly save the lives of Norwood residents experiencing opiate overdoes in the future.

Norwood Police Chief William G. Brooks III, members of the police department and all involved in the decision to implement this important and progressive policy deserve great credit and full support in their effort.

For several reasons, opioids are plentiful in Massachusetts – both diverted prescription drugs and street drugs like heroin. Norfolk County hit 60 known overdose deaths in 2013, more than in the entire states of New Hampshire, Maine or Vermont in 2012.

Narcan, which blocks opiate receptors in the brain long enough to get an OD victim to a hospital for further treatment, is far from the Norwood Police Department’s only answer to the regional crisis. Chief Brooks published a broad written strategy to combat opiate abuse in August 2012. NPD collaborates with NORPAC and the State Police drug unit working in my office, and has consistently participated in attempts to find regional solutions, including quarterly overdose assessment meetings at the District Attorney’s Office and accepting a grant from our office to provide a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week prescription drug take-back and disposal capability at the police station.

I urge the Norwood community to support the good work of the police department and continue to push back against this regional crisis. Working together, we can save lives; I commend the Norwood Police for their leadership.